Scan barcode
petuniarhubarb's review against another edition
5.0
I suck at writing reviews, and I especially hate reviewing before I finish a series, but I wanted to at least say something about this book.
The author is clearly trauma-informed, and I love how it shows through in the book.
So many stories have traumatized characters because it adds drama. It gets old to see how unrealistically actual trauma is portrayed by authors who either don't know what they're talking about or don't know how to express their thoughts on paper(which is understandable, but still frustrating). That isn't a problem here. It's been a few months since I read The Girl at Midnight, so I can't speak for it, but I noticed numerous times in The Shadow Hour when the character development went above and beyond. It wasn't just "This is my tragic backstory, this is why I'm a tortured artist *melodramatic fainting*."
Anyway, I really appreciated the story and character's depth. It makes me sad that this series hasn't been read by more people.
So there's my not-quite review :)
The author is clearly trauma-informed, and I love how it shows through in the book.
So many stories have traumatized characters because it adds drama. It gets old to see how unrealistically actual trauma is portrayed by authors who either don't know what they're talking about or don't know how to express their thoughts on paper(which is understandable, but still frustrating). That isn't a problem here. It's been a few months since I read The Girl at Midnight, so I can't speak for it, but I noticed numerous times in The Shadow Hour when the character development went above and beyond. It wasn't just "This is my tragic backstory, this is why I'm a tortured artist *melodramatic fainting*."
Anyway, I really appreciated the story and character's depth. It makes me sad that this series hasn't been read by more people.
So there's my not-quite review :)
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
A great sequel filled with character building and relationships. A great bridge book for this trilogy, and an ending that leaves me wondering what will happen next and how certain characters will get past their obstacles.
The book was very quick to build on its romances, focusing mainly on Dorian and Jasper, as well as a character from Jasper's past. Despite not really liking love triangles in fiction, I actually like the dynamic of this one. It was complicated and showed a lot of development for Jasper, and a little bit for Dorian in that regard. There was also some more exploration of Rowan and Echo's complex relationship. I had a great time with these characters and look forward to seeing how their story arcs end.
There was a lot of adventure, thieving, and some exploring of the lore between the two warring factions. I would have loved to hear more stories and legends with them. This series has been a lot of fun and I look forward to see how it all wraps up!
The book was very quick to build on its romances, focusing mainly on Dorian and Jasper, as well as a character from Jasper's past. Despite not really liking love triangles in fiction, I actually like the dynamic of this one. It was complicated and showed a lot of development for Jasper, and a little bit for Dorian in that regard. There was also some more exploration of Rowan and Echo's complex relationship. I had a great time with these characters and look forward to seeing how their story arcs end.
There was a lot of adventure, thieving, and some exploring of the lore between the two warring factions. I would have loved to hear more stories and legends with them. This series has been a lot of fun and I look forward to see how it all wraps up!
rhi_g's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the first book in this series, Caius and Echo's relationship was a joy to read about and uncovering this secret world felt magical. The world is complex and the characters diverse so it was a given I'd pick up the second book to see where the story leads.
I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the book. But I can't help but feel disappointed after completing this one. I enjoyed a significant portion of the chapters. Ivy had some great development, Jasper and Dorian had some great moments, and any part that had Caius and Rowan interacting was quite entertaining, but some glaring pacing issues kept me from loving it. Pretty much every chapter followed a different character from the previous and this made transitions very jarring, I kept getting pulled out of the story. The biggest problem for me though was the ending. It felt so rushed. The whole book leading up to (view spoiler) just for it to me over in a couple pages. I needed more payoff and that ending just didn't do it for me.
It's a good book, but for me, the pacing prevents this from being a great one. It's definitely still worth the read if you love these characters and I'm looking forward to picking up the final book in this trilogy.
I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the book. But I can't help but feel disappointed after completing this one. I enjoyed a significant portion of the chapters. Ivy had some great development, Jasper and Dorian had some great moments, and any part that had Caius and Rowan interacting was quite entertaining, but some glaring pacing issues kept me from loving it. Pretty much every chapter followed a different character from the previous and this made transitions very jarring, I kept getting pulled out of the story. The biggest problem for me though was the ending. It felt so rushed. The whole book leading up to (view spoiler) just for it to me over in a couple pages. I needed more payoff and that ending just didn't do it for me.
It's a good book, but for me, the pacing prevents this from being a great one. It's definitely still worth the read if you love these characters and I'm looking forward to picking up the final book in this trilogy.
michalice's review against another edition
4.0
When I made a start on reading The Shadow Hour I did worry that I would find it hard to read, mainly due to the long wait between books, but also because of my reading funk lately. But once I got the chance to actually sit down and read The Shadow Hour I found it easy to fall back into this series, easily remembering who was who and what was going on.
I love the characters in this series, and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with Ivy, Dorion, Jasper, Echo, Caius and Rowen again, but Echo has to be my favourite. I love her for how selfless she is, for how funny she is, and how she says things as they are.
I love the friendship between Echo and Ivy, even though they are two different races they don't see that, they are real and honest and will do anything they can to help the other out, even if it means walking into the dragons den to help.
The Shadow Hour not only brings us characters that we know and love, but it also brings us new information about this world, especially the Kucedra. This is the worst kind of darkness, the dark to the light of the Firebird. Only a true act of evil will allow someone to take on the power of the Kucedra
The Firebird however, is neither good or bad, and Echo doubts her ability to be the Firebird they need, the Firebird that is good, but Rowan helps her see herself, the person she really is and not the person she thinks she is
I liked how Rowan was brought back into this story, and he does play an important role in this book. He joins Echo and Dorion on a journey of discovery with Echo and we get to see the dynamics between this trio in action, without anyone else interfering. We also join the rest of the group as they take on thier own missions, giving us the advantage of seeing all sides of this story and what is going on with them all.
The Shadow Hour is a book that keeps you wondering how this will all play out, and how it will all end. It's certainly not a book without it's losses, and I shed a tear or two for a very unexpected death of someone who didn't really mean much to me, but it's also got some lovely moments where you want to cheer for the good side.
Final Verdict
The Shadow Hour is the second book in the series. I loved the twists and turns of The Shadow Hour and I really can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next...even if this is ages away.
I love the characters in this series, and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with Ivy, Dorion, Jasper, Echo, Caius and Rowen again, but Echo has to be my favourite. I love her for how selfless she is, for how funny she is, and how she says things as they are.
"Oh, come on, what could possibly go wrong in a single hour?" Echo paused. Caius's eyes narrowed in contemplation. With a grimace, she added, "Inscribe that on my tombstone if it comes back to bite me in the ass."
I love the friendship between Echo and Ivy, even though they are two different races they don't see that, they are real and honest and will do anything they can to help the other out, even if it means walking into the dragons den to help.
The Shadow Hour not only brings us characters that we know and love, but it also brings us new information about this world, especially the Kucedra. This is the worst kind of darkness, the dark to the light of the Firebird. Only a true act of evil will allow someone to take on the power of the Kucedra
The Firebird however, is neither good or bad, and Echo doubts her ability to be the Firebird they need, the Firebird that is good, but Rowan helps her see herself, the person she really is and not the person she thinks she is
Being good is a choice you make, and I've seen you make it every day for the past ten years, in the way you take care of the Ala and the Avicelings and Ivy and me. You are kind, and you are brave, and you care about people. Really, truly, selflessly care.
I liked how Rowan was brought back into this story, and he does play an important role in this book. He joins Echo and Dorion on a journey of discovery with Echo and we get to see the dynamics between this trio in action, without anyone else interfering. We also join the rest of the group as they take on thier own missions, giving us the advantage of seeing all sides of this story and what is going on with them all.
The Shadow Hour is a book that keeps you wondering how this will all play out, and how it will all end. It's certainly not a book without it's losses, and I shed a tear or two for a very unexpected death of someone who didn't really mean much to me, but it's also got some lovely moments where you want to cheer for the good side.
Final Verdict
The Shadow Hour is the second book in the series. I loved the twists and turns of The Shadow Hour and I really can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next...even if this is ages away.
livinliterary's review against another edition
4.0
I was eager to find out how the characters that I came to love would fare after the disastrous events of the first book, and, thankfully, I was not disappointed.
This book certainly does not suffer from the dreaded "second book syndrome" - The Shadow Hour is just as full of magic, excitement, and intriguing characters as its first installment. Each character has become more complex and the stakes have been raised, but there is still the humor in the dialogue and story itself that creates a wonderful balance which makes this story such an exciting page-turner.
This book certainly does not suffer from the dreaded "second book syndrome" - The Shadow Hour is just as full of magic, excitement, and intriguing characters as its first installment. Each character has become more complex and the stakes have been raised, but there is still the humor in the dialogue and story itself that creates a wonderful balance which makes this story such an exciting page-turner.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
At the end of The Girl at Midnight, Echo became the new vessel for the Firebird. Now she’s dealing with the enormity of what the Firebird is supposed to represent: peace. When the Avicen Nest is attacked by a strange shadowy creature, Echo realizes that there are two sides to every coin. Where there is light, there is also darkness. But if Echo wields the full power she now possesses will she fall into the path of darkness?
Echo must figure out how to utilize the powers she’s been given in order to save her people. Though tensions between the Avicen and Drakharins are still high, former Dragon Prince Caius believes he can talk his sister, Tanith, into siding with the Avicen in order to beat this common enemy. However, Tanith’s need for power runs deep, and Echo quickly learns the time for action is now.
As I was reading The Shadow Hour there were a couple things that struck me. One, the Firebird mythology that Melissa Grey has created here—coupled with the Firebird’s shadowy counterpart—is done extremely well. The play between light and dark (good and evil) is one of the oldest in the book, but when done well, as it is here, it makes for a very compelling story. Echo is plagued by the voices of past vessels. She struggles with understanding where their influence stops and her own freewill begins. But she handles everything with such grace and confidence, even when she thinks it’s just a façade for those around her. I loved seeing her navigate through this new position of power she’s found herself in.
Two, I found myself liking the secondary characters’ voices more than Echo’s. Don’t get me wrong, I like Echo’s character well enough. But I loved when Melissa Grey would change perspective and give Caius, Ivy, Jasper, or Dorian their points of view. It made the story feel better rounded because Echo is not going into this battle alone. She has the help of her friends and they all have a part to play outside of what Echo has to do, so it’s only right they get their time to shine.
Unfortunately, there were some things that didn’t work for me so well. Probably, the most glaringly obvious one is that Ms. Grey graces readers with the presence of not one, but two, count it TWO, love triangles. I mean, I detest them on a good day, but two for me is pretty much overkill.
Triangle one, between Jasper, Dorian, and devious warlock Quinn, was pretty easy to sort itself out, which makes me wonder why its potentiality was even introduced in the first place.
Triangle two, is awkwardly between Caius, Echo, and Rowan (Echo’s maybe ex-boyfriend). I say awkward because there are all these feelings hovering around these people, but no one talks to each other about them. Echo doesn’t even know if she and Rowan are broken up or not, and she doesn’t even know if her feelings for Caius are her own or from Rose (his former love, once a vessel of the Firebird, who’s thoughts now reside within Echo’s head). I know more important things were going on, but I felt like if the characters themselves didn’t deem it worthy of attention, why should I? This impacted my reactions, or lack thereof, to certain events in the book, which I think was supposed to have more of an emotional response than I could muster.
Overall, I loved the continuing story. I will definitely read the last installment in the trilogy. I just pray the triangles are sorted out swiftly.
At the end of The Girl at Midnight, Echo became the new vessel for the Firebird. Now she’s dealing with the enormity of what the Firebird is supposed to represent: peace. When the Avicen Nest is attacked by a strange shadowy creature, Echo realizes that there are two sides to every coin. Where there is light, there is also darkness. But if Echo wields the full power she now possesses will she fall into the path of darkness?
Echo must figure out how to utilize the powers she’s been given in order to save her people. Though tensions between the Avicen and Drakharins are still high, former Dragon Prince Caius believes he can talk his sister, Tanith, into siding with the Avicen in order to beat this common enemy. However, Tanith’s need for power runs deep, and Echo quickly learns the time for action is now.
As I was reading The Shadow Hour there were a couple things that struck me. One, the Firebird mythology that Melissa Grey has created here—coupled with the Firebird’s shadowy counterpart—is done extremely well. The play between light and dark (good and evil) is one of the oldest in the book, but when done well, as it is here, it makes for a very compelling story. Echo is plagued by the voices of past vessels. She struggles with understanding where their influence stops and her own freewill begins. But she handles everything with such grace and confidence, even when she thinks it’s just a façade for those around her. I loved seeing her navigate through this new position of power she’s found herself in.
Two, I found myself liking the secondary characters’ voices more than Echo’s. Don’t get me wrong, I like Echo’s character well enough. But I loved when Melissa Grey would change perspective and give Caius, Ivy, Jasper, or Dorian their points of view. It made the story feel better rounded because Echo is not going into this battle alone. She has the help of her friends and they all have a part to play outside of what Echo has to do, so it’s only right they get their time to shine.
Unfortunately, there were some things that didn’t work for me so well. Probably, the most glaringly obvious one is that Ms. Grey graces readers with the presence of not one, but two, count it TWO, love triangles. I mean, I detest them on a good day, but two for me is pretty much overkill.
Triangle one, between Jasper, Dorian, and devious warlock Quinn, was pretty easy to sort itself out, which makes me wonder why its potentiality was even introduced in the first place.
Triangle two, is awkwardly between Caius, Echo, and Rowan (Echo’s maybe ex-boyfriend). I say awkward because there are all these feelings hovering around these people, but no one talks to each other about them. Echo doesn’t even know if she and Rowan are broken up or not, and she doesn’t even know if her feelings for Caius are her own or from Rose (his former love, once a vessel of the Firebird, who’s thoughts now reside within Echo’s head). I know more important things were going on, but I felt like if the characters themselves didn’t deem it worthy of attention, why should I? This impacted my reactions, or lack thereof, to certain events in the book, which I think was supposed to have more of an emotional response than I could muster.
Overall, I loved the continuing story. I will definitely read the last installment in the trilogy. I just pray the triangles are sorted out swiftly.
beccajoek's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Really enjoying this series even if can be a little predictable at times.
ameserole's review against another edition
5.0
“You're a thief, Echo.' The Ala Squeezed her hand, her grip strong despite her frailty. 'Steal him back.”
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING BUT WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT!?!?
a bullshit one.
Seriously, I'm freaking out so freaking much that I can't stop freaking out!!
Speaking of Tanith -
I want her to die so badly in the next book and I will be completely devastated if that doesn't happen. But don't ruin it for me I will definitely be picking up this book tomorrow and find out for myself.
Then there's Rowan and I just don't really care what happens to him. I'm glad that he sort of got to be apart of the "Scooby Gang" but was he really necessary? I get that he is friends with Echo, and no I will not say he is a boyfriend..ever, but meh he was just kind of there. At least to me he was. Now if he helped Echo go and save Caius, the love of her life, then I would be 100% okay with that.
Oh, and the Ala is back after being hurt sometime within this book and I absolutely love that she told Echo to go steal Caius back because he was... ya know ... stolen from her. But I have a feeling that Ala ships them together almost as much as I ship them.
Other than that, shit did hit the fan a couple of times. A lot of death has happened in this book. A lot of death. But it was so amazing and interesting and I loved every word on every page. I'm so beyond happy that I read this book and I can't wait to dive into the next book tomorrow.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. RIGHT NOW. DROP EVERYTHING. GET THIS SERIES.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING BUT WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT!?!?
a bullshit one.
Seriously, I'm freaking out so freaking much that I can't stop freaking out!!
Spoiler
I LOVE ECHO. ECHO IS MY MAIN BITCH. MY DIE HARD. I cannot live without Echo in my life anymore. This book sort of broke me. I don't want her with Rowan so she needs to figure that shit out and cut him loose. She needs to be with Caius. 100% needs to be with him right now. She needs to put on her thiefing pants and her big girl shoes and go face Tanith and steal him back.Speaking of Tanith -
I want her to die so badly in the next book and I will be completely devastated if that doesn't happen. But don't ruin it for me I will definitely be picking up this book tomorrow and find out for myself.
Then there's Rowan and I just don't really care what happens to him. I'm glad that he sort of got to be apart of the "Scooby Gang" but was he really necessary? I get that he is friends with Echo, and no I will not say he is a boyfriend..ever, but meh he was just kind of there. At least to me he was. Now if he helped Echo go and save Caius, the love of her life, then I would be 100% okay with that.
Oh, and the Ala is back after being hurt sometime within this book and I absolutely love that she told Echo to go steal Caius back because he was... ya know ... stolen from her. But I have a feeling that Ala ships them together almost as much as I ship them.
Other than that, shit did hit the fan a couple of times. A lot of death has happened in this book. A lot of death. But it was so amazing and interesting and I loved every word on every page. I'm so beyond happy that I read this book and I can't wait to dive into the next book tomorrow.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. RIGHT NOW. DROP EVERYTHING. GET THIS SERIES.
sleepysamreads's review against another edition
I really loved The Girl At Midnight and was really looking forward to this. But sadly, it fell flat for me. I got about 75% through and just gave up. It was really boring. I still love the characters, but the actual storyline felt really generic to me.